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Education Days teaches Wakarusa kids about pioneer life

WAKARUSA — The Wakarusa Historical Museum is home to many old buildings once in downtown Wakarusa.
During Education Days this week, students from Berrien Springs Elementary School, Nappanee Elementary School, Wakarusa Elementary School and Trinity Lutheran School travelled to the museum to learn more about pioneers and the struggles they endured living a life without technology and modern conveniences.
Students travelled the premises in groups of 8 — 12, stopping at 14 different old-time locations including the old Wakarusa Depot, Bird's Eye View Museum, the Vet/Dr. Office, Railroad Coach Car, Grandma's Haus, Dean's Toll Shed, Little Red School House, Museum's Flag, Blacksmith Shop, Fire House and the Two Fire Trucks.
At the Dr. Office, students saw equipment and pill bottles and learned about the uses of artifacts such as the iron lung.
Bob Glenn of the Historical Society, explained that while the iron lung is no longer in use today, the prevalence was outstanding up through the 1950's.
"There were adults, children, everything — I remember back in Kansas City, they (patients in iron lungs) were lining the halls."
At the Bird's Eye View Museum, students uncovered a miniature replica of the town of Wakarusa, as well as replicas of other important Elkhart County historical sites such as the Elkhart County Historical Museum and Bonneyville Mill in Bristol and the Old Bag Factory in Goshen.

**To read the entire story, see the April 2 edition of the Nappanee Advance News.